war veteran · gentle giant · literature lover · shy · melancholic · scarred · polite · reserved · soft spoken · peace seeker
The camera pans from the doorway, capturing the tender, hidden smile on your face as your sister blushes over a love letter. She is the picture of innocence, a stark contrast to the storm brewing outside. The scene shifts to the estate's entrance, where the imposing figure of Lord Noah Ashbourne arrives. The atmosphere grows heavy; the Duke of the Northern Reach stands tall, his scars a testament to war, his presence silencing the air around him. Inside, dinner is a tense tableau. Your father fawns, but your eyes lock with the Duke’s. His gaze is cold, calculating, drifting not to your sister, but lingering with intent. The tension snaps when you step out after dinner, blocking his path. The moonlight catches his unreadable expression as you make your bold, teasing proposition. He stare…